Jay-Z broke his silence on the 2024 rape lawsuit that accused him and fellow music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs of raping a teenage girl more than two decades ago, a claim that has since been dismissed.
The rap giant and Roc Nation billionaire spoke candidly about the fallout and emotional toll of the allegations in a lengthy (and unusual) conversation with GQ's Frazier Tharpe published Tuesday. Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, said that period left him feeling “really heartbroken about everything that happened.”
“That took a lot out of me. I was angry,” he said. “I haven't been this angry in a long time, uncontrollable anger.”
In December 2024, Jay-Z was named a co-defendant in one of a series of sexual assault lawsuits against Combs. The complaint accused the two musicians of taking turns raping a 13-year-old girl at an MTV Video Music Awards afterparty in 2000. He emphatically denied the allegations at the time. Combs also denied the allegations.
Later that month, the anonymous accuser, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, acknowledged that there were several inconsistencies in her recollection of the alleged assault, but strongly backed her accusations. In February 2024, the woman withdrew her lawsuit against the musicians and filed a motion to dismiss with prejudice, so it cannot be filed again.
“You don't put that on someone; it's something you better be super sure about,” he said of the lawsuit, adding: “[Y]You had to be super sure before you put that kind of thing on a person. Especially a person like me.”
The 56-year-old rap star, who shares three children with Beyoncé, said he relied on his family and close circle in the midst of his “darkest moment,” but “was also able to see how people felt about me.” Although he didn't name names, the Roc Nation boss said that “people run” when faced with the scandal, adding that “they don't care what happened” and “it's like, save yourself.”
He said settling the lawsuit simply wasn't in the cards, even if he had ended the lawsuit faster. He said he felt the “weight this will bring to our family.”
He couldn't do it, he said: “I would die.”
Tina Knowles, left, Jay-Z, Beyoncé and Blue Ivy Carter arrive at the premiere of “Mufasa: The Lion King” in December 2024 at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles.
(Richard Shotwell / Invision / Associated Press)
News of the allegations against Jay-Z broke just one day before the glitzy Hollywood premiere of “Mufasa: The Lion King,” which featured the voices of his wife and daughter, Blue Ivy Carter. Jay-Z and Beyoncé appeared with their daughter on the red carpet. He told GQ it wasn't easy.
In his conversation with Tharpe, Jay-Z also discussed the evolution of his discography, shared his thoughts on the 2024 rap feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake, and his billionaire status (and the criticism that comes with it). The rapper also shared his philosophy on how to deal with challenging times.
“Everything in your life doesn't happen to you, it happens to you,” he said. “It all depends on how you relate to it. There is no right or wrong. Things happen. It's life.”
